Diasporic Creativity With Karen Lewis Eckles

Karen Lewis Eckles is a creative master when it comes to culinary art Her unique, Filipino and African American heritage provide space for the fusion of two cultures full of energy, history, and culinary magic Karen recently sat with Black Folk Art to discuss her business, Sweet K’s Gourmet Desserts and Cakes. Her cultural representations of Black life and culture through her culinary art is one-of-a-kind

In this column we discuss those areas that represent Diasporic Creativity; the areas that we often question, “Is that art?” This column is a place to question how we define art and recognize the artists that do unconventional work with very conventional, daily items In this issue, we are talking all things food and especially the delicious and beautiful sweet treats of Sweet K’s.

Do you consider yourself an artist?

Recently, my cousin nominated me to display my art and I was like, “I don't know what art you're talking about!” She goes, “well, what about your cakes and your cookies and stuff like that?” I thought, “I guess it's considered art” but looking at it from her perspective, she kind of broke it down to me and then I began to feel comfortable calling it art. I started looking through all my cakes and, you know, everything else I've done. I was like, “wow, I've actually done a lot!” I would say since 2014, I've probably done over 3000 cakes, cookies, pastries, everything. Normally people ask for custom stuff. So, I try to make it as much as what they're asking for as possible I wasn’t professionally trained in pastry. I started off in, you know, cuisine. So, I did cook and stuff like that I didn't bake on a professional level So that is self-taught.

The Journey to Sweet K’s

It started when my husband was still in the military. Ever since I can remember I worked and so when I got married and I moved on base, I had no job. And I was like, “well, what am I gonna do?” I'm used to making my own money and so I prayed about it and honestly, I prayed one night and then I woke up with this whole idea on my head, the name, where to go, what to do, everything I woke up with this confidence that I never thought I had.

It worked out because I became the premier baker on base. I was able to do parties like retirements for generals They used me for everything even their promotions I did things for the Air Force graduations and anniversaries. Most of my customers were military, but then I expanded outside, so I started doing farmer's markets and things like that. Then I started getting customers from LA and Oakland, up and down California It’s been an interesting journey for me.

The Creative Process

One funny thing is that I can't draw but I can sculpt and I don't know how I can do that. I just did it one day and I was like, “oh, I'm pretty good at this!” I can look at something and I can sculpt it. I know that came from Yah because that was something I could never do and I didn't learn how to do that until I was near 40 years old I can sculpt cake with using fondant. I can sculpt using, different types of things like marshmallow It could be pretty much anything. ‘

Identity and Creativity

I'm Filipino and then of course Black/Hebrew, whatever you want to call it. That influenced me a lot growing up and You know, I grew up with both sides of my family. So, for me, representation is very, very important. I want to create things that people can relate to.

I recently made cookies for a party and I found the cookie cutters, from someone that represents us. I got these cookie cutters from a Black-owned company. That was something I'd been searching for, for a long time. Before I found those, I would try to find just similar shapes that I could make look like hair or a face that represents Black people because it was really hard to find cookie cutters that look like us. I finally found some, and I'm also actually in the process of making my own. I'm going to be purchasing like a 3D printer soon and then come up with my own.

And cookies like that are very rare. You're not going to see them in a bakery or anything like that. I want people to be able to order from me and say, “oh, you know what? I want those cookies, they look like my daughter.” My sister, Kathy, was so excited to do those cookies, and she's an artist in her own right. It was her first time really decorating cookies. I taught her how to do the textures. And things like that. So that it was really fun.

Family, Community, and Sweet K’s

We're a really close-knit family and so, if they see a need, they help fill it They know I'm by myself doing this stuff. So, my sister stepped in It's nice to know that people see you And they say, “okay, let me help her cause it's a lot ” And my sister has really stepped up to help and get everything in order because my goal really is to make sure that everything runs sufficiently, and that people are happy with my work. I want to make sure I have a great reputation. A lot of times we get a raw deal, when people don't want to hire a Black caterer, so I want to make sure that, I have everything in place and I'm just as competitive as everybody else. I do just as great work as they do.

Overcoming Challenges

At the height of Covid I ended up in the hospital I couldn't believe it I thought, nothing could happen to me I'm going to just keep working and I could work till the break a dawn and then get up in a few hours and start again without a problem But Yah has a way of slowing you down too. When they took me in, I was not able to see anybody

I was there by myself. They wouldn't let my husband in and no one can visit me So, I'm in this covid unit by myself I was there for a few days and waiting for my test results which came back negative They moved me and then the doctor was so nonchalant about it and said, “oh, by the way, you have heart failure ” That was it

I didn't really understand the whole of what that meant but dealing with my cardiologist, she explained that I could still live a normal life She informed me that I had to be more aware of your body and if I was tired, I needed to sit down. I would typically be like, “okay, it doesn't hurt that bad I'll keep going ” You know what I mean? So those are the things I always talk to people about I'm like, don't be afraid to ask for help. You know, when people offer it, say yes.

Advice to fellow or aspiring entrepreneurs

Go for it. Start with what you have and keep on going. Be confident because that's the main thing You know when I first started on the military base. There were a couple bakers, but I had confidence. I was like, “I know my stuff is good I know I can do this ” So, the main thing is just really having the confidence in yourself and not being afraid to start, because that's the only way it's going to happen.